Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-21
TRICKS OF SMUGGLERS.
Methods Of Introducing Precious
Gems into the United states

Gems into the United states
1t was stated, few months ago, in
ON American paper, that rich
mans wife wore upon her neck and
breast every evening precious stones
of the value of f40,0OO, other
ladies displaying jewels of q lesser
amount. Nor are American ladies free
from the charge of smuggling; many OF
them, indeed, are adopts at the business,
able to impart secret or two to the
professionals. During the recent Sara
toga season one lady was heard to boast
that she had brought over set of dia.
monds in the heels of several pairs of
slippers which she had made on pur-
pose to contain them. These dainty ar
ticles were ostentatiously displayed and
taken notice of by the searchers, but
the heels were not suspected to- be hol-
low or to contain diamonds. Hollow.
heeled boots were at one time greatly
in use as part of the smuggling ma
chinery. That mode of carrying on the
illicit traffic was ultimately discovered
by an under steward of an American
liner, who for consideration, commu-
nieated the secret to the custom house
aubNOrllle5s lueu lOliohCu soIiSo Vi
contrivances in the shape of double
bottomed trunks, valises with secret
pockets, desks with inside drawers and
guns and pistols, which were
so coutrived as to contain q
few of the much coveted
gems. All these contrivances were in
turn discovered; they were just the kind
of coacealments which the officers had
their thoughts fixed upon. Just as the
customs authorities were under the i'm
preston that they had suppressed the
illicit traffic new era in gem smuggling
was inaugurated, and more diamonds
reached the United States duty free
than before. Smuggling, it may be said,
developed into fine art; at all events,
the Incidence of the trade for brief
period became SO simple as to seem like
childs play; indeed, children were made
10 play an important part in the bust.
ness. A story which lately became pub.
lie shows how we'll the modern diamond
smugglers had laid to heart Poe's pros
poets. "Please to hold my baby while
my husband helps me to open my
trunks; he will be quite good if you
will shake his rattle" said lady pas.
senger to the officer who was waiting
to Hook over her travelling gear.
And that officer good.humoredly did
aa he was requested, shaking the rattle
to the great delight of the little one.
The rattle in question, which fastened to
q ribbon. was tied to the child's wrist,
was filled with gems of great value, q
mode of smuggling that at that time
was too simple for detection. A clever
woman, attired in the costume of Sis
ter of Mercy, was passed over by the
officers because she had no luggage
worth examining. She possessed, how.
ever, fine string of beads which,
with downcast eyes, she kept tell
ing. Safe on land, she was affec'
tionately welcomed by two per.
sons dressed in costumes similar to her
own. Need it be told that she was q
smuggler, and that her beads were Sc
constructed that each held diam ond
weighing seven of eight carats?, Another
ingenious person hit upon the plan OF
placing few precious stones in toy
Kaleidoscope, which had been given to q
child, who carried it ashore in safety. A
number of homing pigeons, kept in cages
and purchased at village in Belgium ar d
brought to the United States by way OF
Paris and Havre, also played q profit
able part, each pigeon being freighted
with q cargo of exquisite gems concealed
in quills, and carefully fastened to the
messare.bearing dove. An extensive
svstem of diamond smuggling was 1T one
t;ma carried on from Canadian ground
bv % he aid Of homing pigeons. The dis
ssvsrv of this illicit trade was made ac-
c;Ssnfsily BY farmer who happened
- shoot one of the birde, and
an examining it found that there
was fastened to its leg quill contain.